Sound-reproducer for talking-machines.



A. BETZOLD.

SOUND REPRODUCER FOB TALKING MACHINES.

(Application filed May 18, 1898,)

Patented Sept. I9, i899.

IllII-llllllllll H Ill Ell m proved device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH BETZOLD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS 'lO THEODORE THORWEGEN AND THEODORE FLACK, OF SAME PLACE.

SOUND-REPRODUCER FOR TALK|NGIVIACH|NES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,226, dated September 19, 1899.

Application led May 18, 1898. Serial No. 681.040. (No model To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ADoLPH BETZOLD, of the city of St.Louis,State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducers for Talking-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to sound-reproducers for talking-machines; and-it consists of the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of myimproved soundreproducenthe same being shown in position relative to one of the record-disks. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reproducer seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately'on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of the connection between Vthe reproducer and the arm that carries the same.

My improved sound-reproducer is especially applicable for machines using flat record-disks, though the same principle, with slight variation in construction, may be used in reproducers for machines using record-cylinders.

In the construction herein shown the wooden arm 1 is provided on its outer end with a collar 2, in which is horizontally arranged a short tube 3, with the outer end of which connects the horn or trumpet 5, that discharges the sounds reproduced by my imlhe opposite end of the tube 3 from the end on which the trumpet connects is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 6, and upon this reduced end is removably located a disk 7 of any suitable material, there being a pin or screw 8 passed vertically through said disk and through the reduced end of the tube 3. Formed integral with the front face and edge of this disk 7 is a ange 9, in the inner edge of which is formed a continuous recess 10. Within this recess is located a diaphragm 1l, of mica, glass, parchment, or analogous material, the edges thereof being held between two packing-rings 12, and said packing-rings and said diaphragm are held in the recess 10 by means of a disk 13, equal in circumference to that of the disk 7, said disk-13 being held upon the face of the iiange 9 by means of screws 15 or in any suit- 55 able manner. Formed through the center of this disk 13 is an aperture 14, and located upon the face of said disk, at a slight distance from said aperture 14 on opposite sides thereof, are the integral lugs 16, there being a plate 6o 17 located upon the outer ends of. said lugs and held thereto in any suitable manner.

Formed integral with the outer edge of the disk 13 at a point in alinement with the center of said disk and between the lugs 16 is a 65 second pair of lugs 18, between the outer ends of which is fulcrumed an arm 19, the outer end of which is formed into a tube 20, which carries the reproducing-needle 21, said needle being held in said tube 2O by means of the set- 7o screw 22. The inner end of this arm 19 is eX- tended inwardly through the aperture 14, said inwardly-turned end 23 being located upon the outer face of the diaphragm 11 and held thereto by means of wax or in any suitable manner. At the point where the arm 19 passes beneath the plate 17 it is provided with a section of rubber 24 or analogous material, and a set-screw 25 passes through the center of the plate 17 and engages against this section 8o of rubber, this set-screw providing means fer accurately adjusting and regulating the vibrations of the needle, arm, and reproducingdiaphragm.

Extending outwardly from the under side ile coil-spring 29 connects said pin or screw 9o with the arm 26. The tendency of this coilspring is to hold the point of lthe needle 21 upon the surface of the record-disk. In some instances the disk 7 may be formed integral with the outer end of the tube 3; but much 95 i better results are obtained where said disk and tube are constructed separately and held .together by the pin or screw 8.

In the operation of my improved sound-reproducer the needle is located in the tubular roo end of the arm 19, and after the disk has been set in motion the point of said needle is placed upon the surface of said disk, and as said needle travels in the indentations in said disk the sound corresponding to said indentations will be reproduced in the usual manner by the vibrations of the diaphragm 11, and the sound thus reproduced Will travel through the tube 3 and be discharged through the trumpet 5, which acts as an amplifier. The cushion 24, of rubber, being loosened or depressed upon the arm 19 by means of the set-screw 25 will readily and accurately adjust and regulate the Vibrations of said arm, and consequently the diaphragm 11, and the reproduced sound will therefore be regulated. lythuslocating the rubber cushion in position a soft even tone may be produced instead of a hard metallic tone, as heretofore, and all the grating and scratching noises unpleasant to the ear will be eliminated from the reproduced sounds. By properly manipulating the thumb-screw tones ranging from loud to Very soft may be produced, even though the record upon the disk be the reverse of the tone desired.

It is preferable that the sound-box comprising the disk 7 and flange 9 be of metal, and it is also desirable that the packing-rings 12 be of some soft material, such as blottingpaper or felt. y

A sound-reproducer of my improved construction is simple, will not readily get out of order, can be accurately adjusted, and is applicable for all styles of talking-machines.

I claim-A 'Ihc improved sound-reproducel` for talking-machines, comprising the sound-box, the diaphragm, the disk 13 having the central aperture 14, two lugs or projections 16 extending at right angles from the outer face of said disk, the plate 17 fixed upon the outer ends of said lugs or projections, the needle-carrying arm, the inner end of which is secured to the diaphragm, the rubber cushion 24 seated upon said needle-carrying arm, and the set screw 25 threaded through said plate 17 and bearing upon said rubber cushion 24;, substantially as speciied.

In testimony whereof I alx my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

ADOLPH BETZOLD. Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. LONGAN, M. P. SMITH. 

